Vroon W2W Vessel Upgraded ahead of First Charter
VOS Start, Vroon BV’s first DP2, subsea-support, walk-to-work (W2W) vessel has departed Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf following the installation of a first of its kind motion-compensated gangway system by Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth, the extended installation of a Kongsberg reference system (including a ‘windfarm module’), and an active heave-compensated crane from SMST. The 80m VOS Start arrived at Oranjewerf on June 1 from her build yard in China, staying for eight weeks in the yard to also undergo various other upgrades and preparations for her first project…
Blount Boats to Manufacture US-flagged Catamarans
Blount Boats, Inc. has been appointed by South Boats Special Projects, Ltd., based at Cowes on the Isle of Wight, England, to be the exclusive shipyard to manufacture U.S. flagged aluminum catamarans of South Boats designs for the U.S. wind farm industry. Blount Boats operates a shipyard in Warren, Rhode Island. South Boats is recognized as a pioneer in designing and manufacturing wind farm service vessels. Their shipyard has built 45 vessels in five classes, from 15M – 30 meters, representing a 50% market share in European wind farms that are serviced by 13 operators, including Turbine Transfers Ltd. (Holyhead Towing Company), Iceni Marine Services Ltd., Northern Offshore Services AB, MPI Workboats, Ltd. (Vroon Group BV), Maritime Craft Services and MTS Group.
3 Crew Dead After North Sea Accident
Three crewmembers died after an accident aboard a rescue vessel on the North Sea, the boat's owners said Sunday. The accident is under investigation by Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch. The men, two Britons and a Pole, were working aboard the Viking Islay when the accident occurred, Vroon Offshore Services Ltd. said in a statement. The Viking Islay, which was supporting operations at a rig in BP PLC's Amethyst Field in the North Sea, has now returned to port. Vroon Offshore Chief Executive Graham Philip said it was still unclear exactly what happened. Vroon Offshore, part of the Vroon Group BV, provides of emergency response services to the offshore oil and gas industry. (Source: AP)
